Chapter 73: Lowering One's Head

He also had high hopes for his student, Choi Seong-hong, who was smart, quick-witted, and eager to learn.
Having achieved fame and fortune despite coming from a humble background, he was still a trustworthy and virtuous man.
Anyone could but the Shunyi Marquis Mansion is impossible, as it has the spirit of an aristocratic scholar.
It was precisely because of his uncompromising character that he lost his position as a doctoral candidate in the five classics of the Imperial Academy.
Within the Imperial Academy there are mostly children of officials and the aristocracy, and his character is too forthright and easily offends them.
While the Marquis of Shunyi betrayed the previous monarch in exchange for his current wealth and status.
In serving the ruler, be guided by propriety; in serving the lord, be guided by loyalty. He believed that the Cui family of Shunyi Marquisate had received the grace of the Zhou Dynasty, but they betrayed the country for wealth and status, which was disloyal.
Now that he is loyal to the Great Qi Dynasty, those in court flatter the king and fail to point out his mistakes, which is also disloyal.
He was unwilling to have any interaction with these high-ranking families and left with a cold face.
The woman beside Liu Yuanlei put down her bowl and said coldly, "You are not allowed to have any further interaction with Cui Chenghong. I will arrange a marriage for you and you will only cause trouble if you stay at home all day!"
The woman gave a bitter smile and respectfully replied, "I understand, mother."
Although she was indulged by her father, he adhered to the traditional male role of being in charge of external affairs and supporting his wife's disciplinary actions towards their daughter without opposing her.
"Little sister Liu, how is your brother's illness?"
Liu Youchu purchased stationery for her father and brother, but she did not choose to do it in a bustling market, but rather opted for a quieter street nearby.
He runs this store and therefore has developed feelings for this gentle and beautiful girl, and has also learned about her family background.
Because everything here, from pens, inkstones, ink, to paper, is affordable and reasonably priced, it attracts many common scholars and families who are not financially well-off.
As for the Liu family, although the father has taken in many students, the money is already spent on supporting the family and preparing for his older brother's future wife.
Liu Yuanlei is too ambitious and looks down on rural girls. He wants to marry a daughter of an official or noble family, so his father shamelessly asked his old colleague's dear friend to arrange a marriage for him.
All his requests were rejected. Obviously, everyone knows what kind of person he is as the so-called "nephew-in-law."
Liu Youchu politely nodded, with a lingering worried expression on her face.
After she left, a woman appeared behind this man with a simple and honest face.
Smiling, she said, "Son, have you set your eyes on the daughter of Mr. Liu?"
The woman and her husband had run the store for decades. After her husband passed away, she continued to run the shop with her son.
Now that her son has found a woman that he loves and wants to marry, she is busy making preparations for the wedding.
The simple and honest man smiled shyly and said, "Miss Youchu looks beautiful and comes from an educated family, she won't be interested in someone like me."
Although his face is square and not particularly good-looking, it can't be described as unattractive.
“Don't worry, that Mr. Liu is in a hurry to arrange his eldest son's marriage! As long as our family can offer a large sum of money, they will be willing to marry their daughter to us!”
The woman smiled and stroked her son's head, seeing her son grow up and start a family was all she hoped for as a single mother.
After Liu Youchu purchased his new set of stationery, he returned home to hear his mother say, "Take some of the newly bought paper and deliver it to Zhu Lin Bie Yuan. Your older brother is there."
She had heard of Zhu Lin Bie Yuan before, an exclusive place primarily for the sons of officials and wealthy people. The average person couldn't afford to go there.
She was unhappy that her elder brother had spent the family's money to meet so-called friends in such a place, just when his illness had shown signs of improvement.
……
Inside the Bamboo Grove Villa, everyone held their breath and the previously noisy voices quieted down.
As the initiator of this gathering, Dong Siping's father was not a Beijing official, but he was a loyal follower of the Shunyi Marquis.
Although the Cui family was very low-key during the Great Qing Dynasty, they had no shortage of former subordinates. Dong Siping's father was one of them.
And the purpose of this banquet was for Dong Siping to welcome Cui Chong, as it was rumored that the young lord would be going to the Western Mountains in a few days to hunt foxes with some nobles from the capital.
With such a good opportunity to curry favor, he naturally wouldn't let it pass and thus rented the Bamboo Grove Villa to welcome Cui Chong.
因为西山离崔府有些距离，于是崔崇干脆搬到了西山附近家中的别院中居住。
崔崇依旧还是一样，身边只有一位随从身着锦衣的元至。
When Liu Yuanlei saw the postures of the guests at the banquet, he quietly asked his companion who brought him in, "Is there any VIP coming here?"
The other party only gave him a gesture to keep quiet. Although they were all from official and wealthy families, they were still not in the same league as the true elites.
Even though Dong Siping sat in the highest seat, he only had the qualification to pander to the real powerful people.
Liu Yuanlei wisely kept his mouth shut, but he couldn't help but wonder what to do when his little sister came over later?
原以为还是和其他聚会一样需要自带文房四宝，可是看着长桌前那松竹轩的霜纸，还有那方紫砚，纸张触碰如雪般洁白，光滑细腻如少女的肌肤一样。
The stone ink slab is delicate and smooth, even after experiencing some winter days, it still feels warm to the touch.
He is intoxicated, is this the life of the upper class? How great would it be if Liu Yuanlei had such a family background.
董思平见到崔崇的那一刻直接恭敬行礼，将对方引到上座。
而崔崇也没有丝毫的客套，仿佛对方一切的所作所为都是理所应当。
The empty seat at the top of the Dong Siping table was actually reserved for him, which everyone only realized then.
Although unsure of the other's identity, one could tell from Dong Siping's attitude that the person's status was not ordinary.
Some insightful individuals quickly guessed the identity of the other person, and said to those around them: "Don't you all know that Dong Siping's father was associated with someone? Back then, his willingness to serve as a lackey for the other person earned Dong Yue a smooth path to officialdom."
After hearing about it, instead of showing disdain, everyone admired Dong Yue's actions and thought how great it would be if they had the same opportunity.
Cui Chong originally wanted to refuse the banquet, but Yuan Zhi next to him made it clear that he still had to attend due to the relationships involved.
The way to manage subordinates is to make them feel at ease, otherwise gaps will arise. Although this is advice, it is also guidance. Cui Shengping keeps him by his side not only to protect him, but also to teach him how to become a qualified successor.
Dong Siping was also extremely flattering and pleasing to Cui Chong when he saw him, saying that he had specifically invited scholars from various families among the guests because he heard that the young marquis liked reading.
The purpose was to create an atmosphere, even though he himself couldn't read a word.
"Young Master Hou, my father often mentioned you and would scold me for not being content with what I have. He said if I had even a tenth of your qualities, I would be satisfied. I believe if my father had a hundredth of your qualities, he would be truly content!"
Cui Chongdao felt that the person in front of him was not as simple as he looked. Although he seemed to have no dignity or bottom line, every word he said was smooth.
He also expressed goodwill appropriately, and some of the guests who were sitting below respected him by toasting to him.
Even played a game of drinking and reciting poetry, Cui Chong had storage of memories and talent.
It caused great admiration among the audience, but he remained sober despite drinking.
Suddenly the atmosphere was interrupted by a servant who entered and reported, "There is a woman down the mountain who claims she is here to deliver something to her brother. She says her brother's name is Liu Yuanlei."
The Bamboo Grove Villa is a villa built on a mountain, and it is named after the surrounding bamboo grove.
Dong Siping, who was sitting in the upper seat, looked unhappy and asked in a loud voice, "Who is Liu Yuanlei below?"
He was just immersing himself in the atmosphere when he was suddenly startled, imagining how his talent would be appreciated by the VIP in the audience.
He immediately stood up, knowing that the person who was pretending to be mute under his feet would also reveal his identity if he didn't keep silent.
Dong Siping originally wanted his subordinates to drive out the person who was disturbing the atmosphere, but was stopped by his companion Cui Chong reaching out his hand.
"Let the person come in!"
The subordinate received the order: "Yes!"
Guests leaving the table in such a manner is disrespectful to the host, so Dong Siping tactfully had them brought back up.
Liu Jingchu waited at the foot of the mountain, where a servant wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Miss, it's better for you to personally deliver the things to Liu Gongzi up the mountain!"
You can see that he ran all the way here, but she didn't say anything more.
She thought her brother would go out as usual, but she didn't want to argue with anyone. She understood that it was unnecessary to make things difficult for the attendants.
She lifted her skirt delicately, afraid that her steps might cause her to stumble.
Under the guidance of a servant, she walked in and couldn't help but admire the thoughtfulness behind the construction of Bamboo Grove Manor.
Natural mountains and the buildings blend together wonderfully, complementing each other perfectly.
After walking through a long corridor, she entered the villa with a servant softly opening the door for her.
Liu Yuanlei was anxiously waiting at the door and whispered after taking something from her hands, "You really know how to cause trouble for me."
Her beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed, revealing her unhappy emotions.
How come her efforts to prepare the writing tools for him have turned into her fault?
The crowd was amazed by the woman's beauty, but Cuichong saw the same expressionless face of the woman.
It seems like thinking and reminiscing, and the appearance of someone who has never met before still produces a palpitation in the heart.
Meanwhile, Dong Siping, who was next to Cuicong, captured his expression in his eyes, with a smile on his lips but a turbulent joy in his heart.
He felt that he had encountered the opportunity his father spoke of, and that loyalty alone was not enough. One must also be able to gauge the intentions of those in power in order to be valued.
Yuanzhi noticed but said nothing. A woman was just a woman to him. If he liked her, he could simply bring her into his household.
In the eyes of these aristocratic children, forcibly taking a civilian woman is not a crime at all, and as long as they do not marry her as a wife, the elders in the family will not say anything.